SIMPSON BAY:-- His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten held a reception in honor of the Royal Decorations nominees as part of the King’s Day celebration themed “Legacies of Service.”
Governor Baly gave the following speech:
Distinguished guests and in particular Royal Decoration recipients, good evening and welcome.
My wife Janique and I are happy to see all of you here this evening on the occasion of celebrating King’s Day, and presenting a Royal Decoration to seven (7) persons within our community who excel, because of their stellar commitment to service within the St. Maarten society, and in some cases beyond and therefore deserve our thanks and appreciation. We will be honouring them this evening on behalf of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander who has granted the recipients their Royal Decorations.
The testimonials you will hear and see this evening will attest to their attributes and commitment to service. Service so distinct and commendable I dare say it aligns with at least part of their life’s purpose.
I liken the seven persons receiving a Royal Decoration this evening to guardian angels.
The guardian angels you have but never even know you needed. A colleague recently mentioned an example of such to me. It is the person in the car in front of you driving at a snail's pace just when you are in a hurry to get where you are going, and you just cannot seem to get around them or get past them, because they seem to be headed in the same direction you are headed. You just have to stay calm and accept that these guardian angels are on your path, guiding you safely to your destination. So too are the seven recipients of a Royal Decoration this evening. Guardian angels that have been set on St. Maarten’s path, guiding us safely to our destination. Destinations such as safety and justice, nature conservation, healthcare and healthy living, philanthropy, piety, and community service. To name a few. They fulfill tasks that many of us did not know we needed fulfilled until they came along and carried out these tasks, making a difference in the day-to-day lives of many St. Maarteners and St. Maarten as a whole. Doing so with such zeal and passion that it is obvious that they have found and are living out their purpose. And that purpose, when carried out with such enthusiasm, dedication, and consistency, sets them apart and distinguishes them as vital elements of our nation's economic, social, environmental, and cultural fabric. Undoubtedly birthing a legacy. A Legacy of Service.
So tonight, on behalf of His Majesty the King, I happily thank you for your contribution to the St. Maarten community and congratulate you beforehand on receiving this honour and special distinction of being awarded a Royal Decoration, this in recognition of your invaluable contribution to the betterment of St. Maarten society and the well-being of our people.
I hope all of you, and in particular our Royal Decoration recipients, have a joyous and memorable evening. Thank you for being a positive influence and a role model in the past, present, and future and for solidifying your Legacy of Service."
Falcon drive 2, Harbor view, Sint Maarten